Philip J. Sampson
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN: 978-3-319-96405-8
Hbk, xi + 160 pp; £54.99
Ebook ISBN 978-3-319-96406-5
Sampson is an iconoclast. In a previous book, Six Modern Myths, he exposed the fictions surrounding Copernicus, Galileo, Christian missionary oppression and the burning of witches. Here he examines the misconception that Christianity is responsible for the ill treatment of animals. He traces this misbelief from Bill Oddie, to Henry Salt via Lynn White Jr.
The prevalent consensus is that the Enlightenment and Darwinian ideology, social and economic changes together with shifts in ethical and philosophical worldviews, undermined the Christian notion of dominion thought, derived from Gen 1:26-28, to provide a kinder, more humane approach to animal welfare. Sampson ably and expertly demolishes this false notion.
He goes on to correct the consensus view and shows how it ignored and neglected the contributions of Christian animal advocacy. He does so utilising the ground-motive of creation, fall and redemption. He shows that 'religious ideas played a fundamental role in the emergence of environmentalism'.
Although the title of the book is Nonconformist conscience, evangelical Anglicans are also dealt with notably, the Clapham Sect, William Wilberforce, Hannah More and Lord Shaftesbury. Others discussed include: Joseph Alleine, Richard Baxter, the Bonars, Calvin, Stephen Charnock, Mathew Henry, Thomas Manton, Samuel Rutherford, Spurgeon, Thomas Watson, Isaac Watts and many more besides.
This book is an essential read for any who are concerned with animal welfare and for those who want to see how Christianity has shaped a compassionate approach to animal welfare.
Contents
1 Speaking of Animals 1
2 Animals, Language and Ethics 13
3 A Modern Story of Animal Advocacy 27
4 Innovation and Religious Discourses 45
5 Creation: What on Earth Are Animals for? 63
6 Fall: Animal Suffering and Human Agency 85
7 Redemption: Hope, Love and Restoration 103
8 A Persistent Language 121
9 Nonconformist Bricolage 133
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